Lost keys lead to arrest in Wrigleyville assault

Police follow lead to Blue Island man

A set of keys dropped at the crime scene has led to charges against a Blue Island man in the sexual assault and robbery of a 19-year-old woman as she walked home early Saturday from a CTA Red Line station in Wrigleyville, Chicago police said Tuesday.

Jeffrey Cole, 23, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated robbery in the attack, which occurred about 3 a.m. Saturday in the 3500 block of North Wilton Avenue, about two blocks from Wrigley Field, police said.

"The victim was screaming," said Cmdr. Thomas Byrne. "As he was running off, he dropped the keys."

Detectives found the keys Monday and tracked Cole down through a CVS pharmacy frequent-shopper card attached to the key ring. Police said a photo of Cole from a previous arrest matched a description from the victim.

Cole was arrested Monday at his sister's home in Blue Island and was identified in a lineup that night by the victim and a witness, police said.

Cole appeared Tuesday in Cook County Criminal Court, where Circuit Judge Maura Slattery-Boyle ordered him held on $300,000 bail. The victim saw Cole standing near her on the train before he followed her home and assaulted her between two buildings, said Assistant Cook County State's Atty. Maria McCarthy.

McCarthy said Cole admitted in a handwritten statement to police that he sexually assaulted, robbed and threatened the woman.

After the hearing, Cole's fiance said he works as a day laborer in a temp agency. Ashley Kramer, 18, who said she is seven months' pregnant with Cole's son, said he is a "caring, loving person" who would not have committed the crime.

The victim was walking home from the Addison CTA train station when the man grabbed her from behind, told her he had a knife and sexually assaulted her, police said. The man also stole $50 in cash and an iPod.

On Monday, police passed out fliers with a sketch of the suspect at the Addison station and posted fliers in storefront windows along Addison and Clark Streets.

Detectives were canvassing neighbors Monday when they found the keys. They issued a subpoena to CVS pharmacy to retrieve the cardholder's information, police said.